1864

2 January

HCA's assets are calculated at 10,039 rdl. (in 1993 terms, this equals 1,000,000 Dkr.). Of this amount, 4,539 rdl. are in a bank, 2,500 are on loan to Edvard Collin and 1,000 are on loan to Henrik Stampe (interest is paid on both loans). Moreover, HCA owns a royal bond worth 1,000 rdl. At this time his taxes amount to 12 rdl. and 48 skilling (farthings) quarterly.

5 January

Returns to Copenhagen.

January

Follows the mobilisation in Copenhagen with interest ("I felt overcome by this moment in time, fascinated and bitterly aware of my isolation", the diary, 29th).

13 January

Reads aloud for the Workers' Association.

23 January

Reads aloud for the pharmacists at Vincent's restaurant.

1 February

War breaks out, the Germans cross the Ejder.

3 February

Reads aloud for several hundred ladies at the Workers' Association. Hears the first reports of battle (from Mysunde).

5 February

Dannevirke is vacated without combat. Slesvig is captured by the Germans. There is unrest in Copenhagen in the following days, with the government (and at times also the royal house) labelled as traitors.

16 February

Sees Counsellor Chr. Glud, chief of section in the Ministry of War, who is in charge distributing money to the wives and children of soldiers. HCA had been asked to provide a verse of inscription for the paper piggy banks which are to be used, and therefore found a verse which he had written for a similar purpose at an earlier date. But this verse read; "Soldiers shelter Dannevirke" and would of course not do for the present situation. So the text had to be adjusted! HCA comments on the distribution in the diary (16th):

"It was in those very same rooms at the Royal Dockyard that I had approached Admiral Krigers and visited Miss Tønderlund, when I first arrived in Copenhagen. I had not been there since; at that time I had stood here with my tragedy: The Robbers of Vissenberg, but was now one of Denmark's famous writers, bringing forth my poetic contribution, in aid of the wives and children of the Danish army"

Large numbers of HCA's piggy banks are sold at a bazaar held later in the month by the ladies at the Students' Association in Copenhagen. The piggy banks are sold for 24 skilling a piece (farthings).

February

Gets a new set of teeth at this time, but has a lot of trouble with them:

"Better dead and buried, one slowly deteriorates, that the shell, inside I am still 16 years, but not allowed to be like that, according to other people" (the diary, 29th)

February

Comments on the atmosphere in Denmark:

"Widespread despondency here in the country and the parties dominate. Especially the women are fanatic" (the diary, 21st).

24 February

Takes a large decorative paper-cutting along to a charitable bazaar, for it to be auctioned there. HCA himself suggests a price of 3 marks, but it is sold for twice that amount, 1 rdl. This very imaginative decoration carries, moreover, an inscription written by HCA himself:

"This cutting is somewhat dear it is priced at a half rix dollar But it is a complete cut-out tale And your kindness of heart will pay" (privately owned, reproduced in: H.C. Andersen. Papirklip/Paper Cuts. 1992).

26 February

Takes a large decorative paper-cutting along to a charitable bazaar, for it to be auctioned there. HCA himself suggests a price of 3 marks, but it is sold for twice that amount, 1 rdl. This very imaginative decoration carries, moreover, an inscription written by HCA himself:

"This cutting is somewhat dear it is priced at a half rix dollar But it is a complete cut-out tale And your kindness of heart will pay" (privately owned, reproduced in: H.C. Andersen. Papirklip/Paper Cuts. 1992).

3 March

HCA receives a new set of teeth from Bramsen the dentist and thus notes in the diary:

"A new enrolment to the ranks of elderly men and with my youthful feelings therefore ridiculous personality".

9 March

First performance at the Casino theatre of Paa Langebro, Folkekomedie med Chor og Sange i fire Acter. Efter Musæus og Kotzebue (On Langebro, Folk-Comedy with Choir and Songs in Four Acts. Based on Musæus and Kotzebue). [Langebro is a bridge in Copenhagen]. The play is performed 19 times during HCA's life.

16 March

Reads aloud in conjunction with a concert at the Students' Association, held in aid of the soldiers. At this time, HCA is approached by many people who want him to read aloud at charitable events.